Even as the Tripura Government formed an Advisory Committee to address the retrenched 10323 teachers’ impasse, a factional fraud among the group reportedly surfaced.
The Government constituted a three-member Committee to be headed by Retired High Court Justice AB Pal on Wednesday (Jan 11). Two other members of the committee are Advocate CS Sinha and Retired IFS Officer Prasenjit Biswas.
The Committee will suggest the State government in ending the ongoing stalemate and take a decision – without inviting the Contempt of Court from the Apex Court or the High Court – regarding the axed 10323 teachers’ issue of reinstating them back into jobs. The State Government has fixed a deadline – March 31 – for submitting the suggestions.
The retrenched 10323 teachers’ groups are holding agitations demanding their reinstating them in jobs based on an RTI received from the Supreme Court.
In time and again, the State Government expressed its keenness in solving the issue. Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha told the agitating teachers that as their jobs were terminated after a Court verdict, their issue is a legal matter. Urging the axed 10323 teachers to have patience and faith, Dr Saha said the Government is in consultation with the legal experts to address the issue in a manner so that the decision does not invite Contempt of the Court.
Before the ECI announces the Assembly Polls in Tripura, the State Government formed an advisory committee and fixed a deadline to submit its suggestions.
The move clearly advocated Government’s willingness in solving the 10323 teachers’ issue. After the election is over and new government – be it of BJP or any other party – the Committee would suggest ways to handle the issue.
Inclusion of Retired HC Justice AB Pal is another point that reveals Government’s willingness to end the crisis as Justice Pal, on earlier occasions, mentioned in the media ways for reinstating the axed teachers. His valuable observations and suggestions will help the government to address the issues and bring a relief for the agitating teachers.
As it appears, the move did not go down well with a faction of the axed 10323 teachers. One faction, the Joint Movement Committee (JMC) of the axed 10,323 teachers – known to be backed by the opposition CPM – called the move as an ‘election-gimmick’.
However, another faction which is holding ‘fast-unto-death’ agitation in Agartala sounded optimistic and welcomed the decision.
Daliya Das, one of the leaders of the JMC – who is also a CPM cadre – slammed the state government over the formation of the panel. According to her, this is an ‘election-gimmick’ just to delay the issue of reinstatement as the elections are knocking at the door. She opined the Government will totally close the matter after the election days are announced.
In the contrary, leader of fast-unto-death agitation, Pradip Banik said they are hopeful that the State Government will find a solution for the retrenched teachers.
Many among the common people feel that the move of the State Government is a proper and sincere effort in solving the crisis – however, the move will also put the Opposition parties in a serious fix.